Nicola Wilson, 2021 FEI European Champion, is moving from podium athlete to coach
“I am excited about the next phase in my life and determined to stay positive going forward” says Nicola Wilson on her website, and she is doing just that, having just been named as part of a new coach development programme by UK Sport
Following her well-documented accident as Badminton Horse Trials in May 2022, Nicola made a remarkable and inspirational recovery from multiple spine injuries. After a lengthy rehabilitation programme, Nicola finally returned home to her yard in Northallerton, North Yorkshire in September to start a new life and career
An Olympic silver medallist, Team GB stalwart and current holder of the FEI European Individual and Team Championship titles, Nicola’s invaluable experience as a rider led her down another, closely related, path, as a mentor and coach.
At the time she said that “I am conscious that l need to learn to walk before l run (literally) so l will be starting steadily. I hope to be able to offer at the beginning of 2023 training to suit clients’ requirements”
And she is certainly off and running with great results in a short space of time.
Already a British Equestrian Accredited Coach UKCC Level 3 Eventing, Nicola joined the Wesko Equestrian Foundation as a coach in December 2022 and she has just been named as part of UK Sport’s new coach development programme, Coaching in High-Performance Sport (CiHPS)
"I am really looking forward to challenging myself to learn more about my coaching craft through the workshops, interaction with other elite coaches from across multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports and working with our assigned coach developers" says Nicola.
"I am certainly being taken out of my comfort zone and am so grateful to British Equestrian for putting me forward to be given this opportunity as I transition from Podium athlete to coach. I look forward to implementing into my coaching what I learn and see. It will be invaluable to be part of a coaching network across sporting disciplines.”
What was once her competition yard at Northallerton now provides the perfect training facilities for other riders and is also available as a base, long or short term, for those wishing to train with Nicola.
If you’re interested in being coached and mentored by Nicola, you can find out more on her website or contact her at nicola (@) nicolawilsonequestrian.co.uk
